Maps and documents which are historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over archipelagos in the East Sea are being showcased in Thang Binh district of central Quang Nam province.

The exhibits include replicas of old Vietnamese documents on the country’s establishment and enforcement of its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, along with royal documents from Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty and western maps showing the country’s possession of the two archipelagos.

Also on show are maps of China without the islands issued by western countries and China itself, documents on the archipelagos before and after 1975, and related researches by Vietnamese and foreign experts.

One notable item is a map of Quang Nam drawn in 1810 showing Hoang Sa islands, named Cat Vang in Vietnam ’s ancient Nom script, off the coast of the province.

The display also features decisions by Kings Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc of the Nguyen Dynasty to assign Vo Van Tay, a Quang Nam native, as the head of a naval soldier team patrolling Hoang Sa.

Director of the Quang Nam Department of Information and Communications Pham Hong Quang said the items, collected in Vietnam and other countries help testify to Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa and raise public awareness of the national sovereignty protection.

The exhibition, opened on May 19, at the Centre for Culture and Sports of Thang Binh district will last until May 22.-VNA